Flu shots in high demand: Genesee County school districts, residents take extra precaution this flu season

A group of second grade girls sanitize their hands before lunch at Central Elementary School. The Flushing school is placing hand sanitizer outside the cafeteria for kids to use before and after lunch to help prevent the spread of the flu.Lauren Justice | MLive.com

GENESEE COUNTY, MI – Crowded emergency rooms, shortages of flu vaccine in some locations and hand sanitizers placed all around public places such as schools are proof of an early flu season and a growing awareness that prevention is the best medicine.

Some school districts have seen an increase in absences,
while others haven't anything for concern yet. Most schools districts, however,
are keeping an eye on the spread of the flu in a particularly early and harsh outbreak of the disease.

Flushing School District, for example, has seen about 100
students at the high school absent, which is more than normal. The elementary
schools are seeing around 30 students absent, when it's usually more like 15,
said Associate Superintendent Michele Blair.

"I do know there is a heightened awareness. We all, I know,
are taking extra steps and activities in terms of cleaning and going above and
beyond because of the time of year," said Jerry Johnson, spokesman for the
Genesee Intermediate School District. "I think everybody's doing a little bit
of something because of the heightened awareness."

Local pharmacies, including Rite Aids and Walgreens, have
run short on some vaccines earlier than usual, so people who want to get a flu shot should call ahead to make sure they are available.

Second graders at Central Elementary School sanitize their hands after finishing lunch Friday, January 11. The Flushing school is placing hand sanitizer outside the cafeteria for kids to use before and after lunch to help prevent the spread of the flu.Lauren Justice | MLive.com

Walgreens in Davison was down to 16 vaccinations on Friday,
but was expected to get some more from other stores, said Brek Shafer,
pharmacy technician. For now, people should call and set up an appointment to
get a flu shot at pharmacy, located at 901 S. State Road.

"I didn't really see it coming. They called me one day
and said we had a flu shot crisis," Brek said of the shortage. "It
was really all at once."

There shouldn't be a shortage of vaccinations in the county,
said Mark Valacak, health officer for the Genesee County Health Department.
Mainly, pharmacies are having to shift supplies around, he said. The health
department will also be ordering more vaccine to fill the demand.

Eight Genesee County school districts – Davison, Flushing,
Goodrich, Lake Fenton, Linden, Mt. Morris, Montrose and Swartz Creek – have
made flu information easily accessible on their district websites. The
information educates parents on the symptoms of the flu, tips on how to prevent
it and what to do when a child does get sick.

School officials stress that students should not come back
to school until they have gone 24 hours without a fever.

"If you have a fever, don't come to school," said Traci
Koch, a nurse for the Flushing district. "As long as they have a fever, the
chance for them being contagious is greater."

Students need to be fever-free for 24 hours without the help
of Tylenol or anything else, Koch said.

School districts around the county have been taking extra
precautions throughout the buildings. Many are giving teachers supplies to
wipe down objects such as desks and doorknobs, educating students on how to
cough into their elbow, wash their hands and other good hygiene tips, providing
hand sanitizer in lunch rooms and classrooms and sending information on the
flu to students and parents.

Whenever there is a community environment, especially a
school, it's very important to make sure objects are sanitized and
students are educated about the flu season, said Valacak of the Genesee County Health Department.

"We work closely with all the schools and they do a good
job," Valacak said. "They want to protect the kids, too. They are taking extra
precautions."

As of now the numbers of absences around the county don't
seem to be a concern. They are similar to last year, Valacak said.

Preventing the flu

School officials across the county said it''s extra tricky keeping students healthy this time of year.

Montrose School District officials sent information to
all their parents Friday about what they should know about flu season.

The guide for parents discusses symptoms of the flu – fever, headache,
dry cough, stuffy or running nose, sore throat and sore muscles – how protect
their children, what to do if a child gets sick and other helpful information.

According to the guide, which is provided from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, also states that someone with the flu could
spread it for up to five days after feeling ill.

Montrose Superintendent Mark Kleinhans said the information was sent out a little earlier this year to better protect the students. The district
also put up signs in the buildings to remind them of good hygiene practices.

"I think it's very important (to get information out). ... I
had (the flu). It's not fun," Kleinhans said. "It hasn't hit us yet. It makes
its rounds. ... We're monitoring it. We're keeping an eye on it."

Other districts are watching closely to make sure there isn't
a spike in absences.

In Grand Blanc School District, the number of absences is
normal for this time of the year, said J.P. Adams, director of operations.

In Flushing elementary schools, they teach the younger
students to wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing the Happy
Birthday song twice, Koch said.

Teachers are also going over all the important information in
the classrooms and then posting signs to remind them daily, Blair said. Hand
sanitizer also is available at all lunches for students, as well as in the
classrooms.

Jodi Lee, a parent of an elementary and middle school
student in Swartz Creek, said she believes the district is doing all it can
to help protect the students during the day.

At Syring Elementary, where her daughter attends, they are
big on hand sanitizer, using it after an activity, before starting a new one
and also when they are coming back into the classroom.

"I think they do a pretty good job," said Lee, 33, of Swartz
Creek. "The school's really good about communicating, as well, if they've been
exposed to something. ... I think it's important that the kids get the right education
at home, too."

Swartz Creek school officials also encourages student to
avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth and avoid people who are sick.

But disinfecting on a regular basis is very important, said
Chad Sexton, director of operations.

"A lot of credit has got to be given to the teachers, because
they are with (the students) the most, encouraging them to wash their hands. ...
Without them we couldn't keep the building as clean as we should," Sexton said.
"We've been one of the lucky districts where (the flu) hasn't seem to hit our
schools yet. We're keeping our fingers crossed we won't."